Forces Repel Ambush, Kill Insurgents

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, March 29, 2011 – Afghan and coalition forces killed numerous insurgents yesterday in the Sar Kani district of Afghanistan’s Kunar province after a combined patrol suddenly came under attack, military officials reported.

Ground troops were patrolling the area when insurgents opened fire from two concealed locations. They repelled the ambush until an air weapons team arrived to end the insurgent attack with precision airstrikes.

In other news yesterday throughout Afghanistan:

-- Security forces killed several enemy fighters in Helmand province’s Reg-e Khan Neshin district after seeing insurgents operating at a known enemy fighting position.

-- Security forces killed several insurgents after spotting them planting roadside bombs in Helmand province’s Sangin district.

-- Forces killed an insurgent and detained several other suspects in Jowzjan province’s Qush Tepah district. Troops targeted a cave complex that insurgents used as a safe haven for coordinating and staging attacks on security forces.

-- Afghan and coalition troops in Helmand province’s Sangin district killed an armed insurgent who was displaying hostile acts against security forces, officials reported.

-- In Logar province’s Baraki Barak district, security forces detained several suspected insurgents in a raid that targeted Taliban safe havens in the area.

-- In Helmand province’s Musa Qalah district, troops detained a suspected insurgent while searching for a Taliban member responsible for coordinating drug shipments in northern Helmand.

-- In Kandahar province’s Zharay district, a combined patrol detained several suspected insurgents while searching for a Taliban fighter linked to supplying bombs and other weapons throughout the district.

-- Afghan and coalition forces captured two Haqqani network terrorists and weapons traffickers responsible for supplying militants with artillery and other munitions to attack security forces in Khost province’s Bak district.

-- Security forces captured a Haqqani network terrorist who they confirmed had recently conducted training to carry out a suicide bombing in Paktika province’s Orgun district.

-- Forces found several weapon and drug stockpiles, resulting in seizure of 250 large-caliber machine gun rounds, four mortars, two assault rifles with 500 rounds of ammunition, an anti-tank mine and assorted bomb-making materials.

Troops also confiscated at least 5,000 pounds of cannabis resin, more than 1,400 pounds of hashish, 55 pounds of “black-brick substances,” 55 pounds of heroin and 50 pounds of marijuana, officials reported.